Crooked teeth can leave you feeling less than confident about your smile, and they can also make it more difficult to brush your teeth properly. But can you straighten your pearly whites without having to deal with the inconvenience of braces? In many cases, the answer is yes thanks to SureSmile! This alternative orthodontic option gives you a discreet way to correct your crooked smile in less time than traditional metal braces. Call us today to schedule your first consultation with Dr. Hardin to discuss your smile alignment with SureSmile aligners in Plano, TX.
A series of clear plastic aligners will be created based on impressions of your mouth. When worn, the aligners will exert pressure on your teeth in order to slowly shift them into new positions, gradually creating a straighter grin. You will need to wear your aligners for about 20 to 22 hours every day, and you’ll switch to the next set of aligners in your customized series every one or two weeks. The treatment usually takes between 12 and 18 months, although the timeline varies based on your situation.
SureSmile aligners can offer teens and adults a more image-friendly alternative to bulky metal braces. Most patients qualify as good candidates for this option. The treatment works best for mild to moderate corrections, and it can be used to address a variety of orthodontic issues.
When your teeth are crowded, you may have a hard time cleaning between them. This puts you at a higher-than-average risk for tooth decay and gum disease. Fortunately, SureSmile can be used to straighten teeth and create the necessary space between them so that you can comfortably practice proper oral hygiene.
Having unusually large spaces between your teeth can be embarrassing. It also means there are more places in your mouth where food can become trapped and cause bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay. SureSmile treatment can close the gaps in your grin to enhance your appearance and protect your oral health.
Overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites can negatively impact your mouth’s ability to properly distribute the forces of chewing. This in turn increases your overall risk for bruxism, jaw pain, enamel erosion, and TMJ disorder. SureSmile can often be used to correct the alignment of your bite and reduce your chances of suffering jaw problems.
Deciding which orthodontic treatment to choose isn’t always easy. After all, each one – from traditional braces to Candid Pro – comes with its own set of benefits. In this next section, you’ll find a few noteworthy reasons patients choose to straighten their teeth with clear aligners, but don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you want to speak with a member of our team instead!
Let’s start with one of the most obvious benefits of clear aligners: they don’t stick out the way traditional metal braces do. That’s because the trays are crafted from low-profile, high-quality, and see-through materials, ensuring they don’t protrude, look bulky, or bring unwanted attention to your smile. In fact, there’s a good chance that the people you interact with throughout the day – from the bank teller to the cashier at the grocery store – won’t even know you’re wearing braces!
Another considerable perk of Candid Pro is that the aligners are removable. That means that you won’t have to worry about any dietary restrictions while straightening your smile! Instead, you can take them out, store them in their designated case, and eat all of your favorite foods.
Tip: Keep your consumption of added sugar to a minimum. This sweetener is one of the leading causes of tooth decay, and the development of a cavity can lead to treatment plan delays.
Have you heard that clear aligners are generally faster than traditional braces? It’s true! The average treatment plan with Candid Pro is between 12 and 18 months, while traditional braces can take two, three, or four years. So, if you want a straight smile before your wedding or another important event, Candid Pro may just be the orthodontic treatment you’ve been looking for!
Usually, patients with traditional braces have appointments every four weeks so their braces can be adjusted. Candid Pro, on the other hand, only requires patients to come in every six or eight weeks. That’s because you’ll be able to progress through portions of your treatment plan at home. Coming in periodically throughout your orthodontic treatment simply allows us to make sure that your teeth are responding to the aligners (as well as answer any questions you have and give you your next batch, of course).
At first, being able to continue your usual dental care regimen might not sound like much of a perk. However, it saves you from having to invest in special oral hygiene products, like interproximal toothbrushes. Plus, being able to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash easily significantly reduces your risk of yellow teeth and cavities, ensuring your smile stays healthy and beautiful.
Finally, clear aligners are comfortable; there are no brackets, wires, or metal pieces. As a result, your journey to a straight smile will be even smoother.
Note: Soreness from time to time is normal as your teeth move into their properly aligned positions. If that happens, take OTC pain medication as directed and avoid crunchy foods.
You might know how SureSmile works and what makes it unique, but do you know what life with clear aligners is actually like? If the answer is “no,” don’t worry – this next section is for you! Below, you’ll find information on everything from how to wear your aligners for 20+ hours a day to why your routine check-in visits are so important.
In order to stay on-track with your treatment plan, you need to wear your SureSmile aligners for 20+ hours a day. The best way to make this happen each and every day is by finding a schedule that works and sticking to it. In the beginning, it’s helpful to use the stopwatch on your phone as a guide so you can see how close or far you are from the goal. With time, however, it will be second-nature.
Keeping your SureSmile aligners clean does require some work. The good news is that you only need a few things, and it will only require a few minutes of your time! The first habit we recommend adopting is rinsing your trays with clean, cool water when you take them out. Additionally, you should use a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush to remove saliva, food particles, plaque, and other debris from their surface after each meal.
Note: Some patients are allowed to use mild dishwashing liquid as well, but don’t just use any household cleaner. In fact, even toothpaste and mouthwash aren’t recommended for clear aligners!
Fortunately, eating and drinking with SureSmile is also really easy. That’s because there’s only one rule: take your aligners off beforehand. Make sure you don’t leave them out on the counter or wrap them in a napkin either. This is one of the most common ways they get misplaced (more on that in the next section). Instead, store your trays somewhere safe, brush your teeth when you’re done eating, and put them back on shortly after.
Remember, wearing your SureSmile aligners for 20+ hours a day is crucial. Naturally, that’s difficult to do if you lose them. If you find yourself in this situation, thoroughly retrace your steps. In the process, make sure to look in all of the “random” places they could’ve ended up, like the trash can or the center console of your car. If your attempts are unsuccessful, don’t worry – you can give us a call and we’ll help you determine the best way to move forward.
Throughout your SureSmile treatment, you’ll need to come to our office so we can monitor the movement of your teeth. If you’ve been following all of the guidelines, including wearing your aligners for 20+ hours a day, there’s a good chance that you will be on-track with your treatment plan. If that’s not the case, then we will need to make the necessary adjustments in an effort to avoid unwanted delays.
TThe cost of clear aligner treatment varies from patient to patient. To create an estimate for you, we’ll need to consider several factors, such as the number of aligners you’ll need and the complexity of your corrections. In addition to explaining how much you can expect to pay for your treatment, our team will also outline your options for making SureSmile as affordable as possible. We want you to enjoy a straighter smile without putting too much of a strain on your wallet!
Each patient looking to straighten their smile requires a scheduled consultation with a member of our team. Since you are expressing an interest in clear aligners, you can expect that we will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and bite to determine if this form of orthodontics is right for you. If so, we’ll begin to draft a cost estimate based on the following factors:
Smile Direct Club is a well-known do-it-yourself (DIY) solution that is regularly promoted on TV. Marketed as a product that is just as effective as other professional options, it entices patients to forgo costlier options for a significantly cheaper solution. While it is true that Smile Direct Club is less expensive than SureSmile, there is the potential for greater expenses if you attempt to straighten your smile on your own. These can include:
Choosing professional clear aligners will require more of a financial investment, but the results are what you can expect and appreciate in the long term. Instead of potentially damaging your smile, you’ll want to save the DIY work for other, less harmful projects.
Depending on your plan, dental insurance may offer coverage for clear aligners. Typically, when available, most insurers will agree to pay up to 50% of the total cost. The catch, however, is that not all insurance policies contain clauses for orthodontic treatment. In many cases, you’ll need to purchase a supplemental plan. Even then, you’ll need to make sure that it doesn’t contain stipulations that could keep you from seeking treatment.
At Westpark Village Dental Care, we know not everyone has a private dental insurance plan. This is why we are pleased to announce that currently, we are offering $1,000 off clear aligners! You can also take advantage of:
If you’re like most patients, you want straight teeth and a beautiful smile as quickly as possible. The good news is that SureSmile does have a shorter average treatment timeline than traditional braces (around 12-18 months). However, the length of yours will depend largely on the complexity of your case and how well you follow the guidelines we provide you with, like wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours a day.
When it comes to just about any dental treatment, including braces, patients are worried about discomfort. So, if you’ve been hesitant to commit to SureSmile because you’re concerned that it will hurt, you’re not alone. Turns out, you also don’t have anything to worry about! That’s because the aligners are completely free of metal and custom-made to fit your mouth perfectly. Of course, some temporary soreness from time to time is expected since your teeth are being moved into completely new positions, but even that can be alleviated with a few simple steps (i.e., sipping on cool water, avoiding crunchy foods, taking OTC pain medication).
You cannot eat anything while your SureSmile aligners are in. Outside of that, however, the rules around food are pretty lax because the trays are removable! As a result, you don’t have to worry about your braces breaking under the pressure of whole apples, tortilla chips, carrots, and other crunchy foods. All we ask as your dental team is that you keep sugary foods and drinks to a minimum to reduce your risk of developing tooth decay.
When you first get your aligners, they will be perfectly clear. To keep them that way, you need to take really good care of them. That includes consistently rinsing them with water when you take them off and using a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean them before you put them back in your mouth. Some patients also like using toothpaste, but the abrasive ingredients can make the aligners look dull. If you’re having trouble keeping your trays clean, you can also talk to us about using a mild, clear dishwashing liquid too.
If you had traditional braces in the past – whether you were a child, teen, or young adult – you might initially assume that you aren’t a candidate for SureSmile. However, many patients who have experienced orthodontic relapse are good fits for this discreet orthodontic treatment! So, don’t let the fact that you had braces in the past stop you from scheduling an appointment with our Plano dental team.
After your SureSmile treatment, we will provide you with a custom retainer. This orthodontic appliance serves a very important purpose: it helps keep your teeth in their perfectly aligned positions. For that reason, it’s crucial that you follow our instructions on when and how often to wear it.
